Lot 338

Louis Elisée Piguet zugeschr. / attributed to

An important, large and very heavy minute repeating "Grande Complication" with perpetual calendar, moon phase, chronograph and quarter repeating mechanism "Petite Sonnerie" and "Grande Sonnerie"

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This Grande Complication has an impressive weight of 286 g and a diameter of 60 mm; it is over 23 mm high. The condition of the case, the dial and the movement is excellent and the quality of the perfectly mirror-polished and bevelled steel levers is outstanding. The two barrels are wound through a racking bar. For the minute repeater and the quarter hour strike "Petite Sonnerie" and "Grande Sonnerie" the hammers strike on two different gongs. Fitted with no less than 11 complications, this watch is one of the most complicated pocket watches in existence. The movement is immaculate and in mint condition; it was probably never installed in a case. The current owner had a heavy case made for this movement at the highest level of craftsmanship.

From Le Brassus Piguet created a number of exceptional timepieces, such as a "Grande Sonnerie" with 7 hammers. Some of the most complicated watches sold in Glashuette employed L.E. Piguet movements, while firms such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron & Constantin, and Breguet employed his movements on occasion. He improved chronographs and the keyless winding system, and invented the fixed star repeating mechanism. When Ami LeCoultre Piguet received a commission to build the so-called "Merveilleuse", a watch with 24 functions and complications, he chose Louis Elisée Piguet as his partner. One of the most talented watchmakers in the late 19th century, he was respected by his peers and served on a number of horological committees. His company, later renamed Frédéric Piguet SA, has survived and continues the tradition of making high-quality complicated timepieces.
Source: "Horlogers et montres exceptionnels de la Vallée de Joux", Daniel Aubert, Neuchâtel, 1997.